Spring 2022 University Registrar Welcome and Semester Information

(Excluding Law and SOM)

January 12, 2022

Dear Faculty,

I hope this message finds you well on this first day of classes for Spring 2022. As you know the semester has begun in remote mode for the first two weeks and is planned to transition to in-person on Monday, January 31st. I write today to provide you with important information for the semester including details for the academic calendar.

Faculty members who are expecting to start on different schedules (eg. SCS, MBA and GU-Q) should have, or will, receive information from their dean or department.

The updated academic calendar can be found on the Registrar’s website.

You can review the most up-to-date class rosters through MyAccess. If you have difficulty obtaining a roster from MyAccess, ask your department administrator for help. If a student attending your class does not appear on the MyAccess roster, they are not officially registered for the class. Please direct any such students to their program advisor or dean. Class rosters in Canvas include the option to view a “photo roster” with pictures of your students from the GoCard system. Students who are listed but have no photo displaying on your roster should follow the FirstGoCard photo upload instructions.

Please note: You will need to use DUO authentication in order to successfully access MyAccess and Canvas. If you do not have DUO, you can find directions on the UIS website.

The Spring 2022 Schedule of Classes is available for the most updated information.

By now you may have read the recent announcement from Provost Groves regarding Spring 2022 academic adjustments and the extension of the drop period to Monday, January 31st.

The waitlist runs each workday after 3 p.m. EST from now until Wednesday, January 19. Some programs may run on a different schedule. Students will have 24 hours to claim their seat after which they will be dropped and the seat offered to the next student on the waitlist. Priority outside of the waitlist process may be given at your discretion by granting enrollment permission via email to students, which will result in an increase to the maximum enrollment cap assigned for your class. Undergraduate students on the Main Campus will upload your email approval to the new Add Form to facilitate registration. All other students should contact their program advisor if they need assistance. After January 19, when the waitlist closes, through the last day to add, Friday January 21, remaining open seats will be available to add in MyAccess provided students meet the course prerequisites and restrictions.

If your class requires special permission, undergraduate students may complete the online add form and submit it before 5 p.m. EST January 21. Prior to completing the form, students must receive the instructor’s permission via email and upload a copy with their request. Graduate students should contact their program advisor for assistance with special permission approvals.

As mentioned in the Provost’s message on January 10th, the pass/fail grading policy will mirror the policy from the Fall Semester. Students will have until the last day to withdraw to choose the grading method. As in the Fall Semester, graduate programs will be able to opt in to a similar grading system.

As we plan for the Spring term, we affirm our collective responsibility to ensure equitable access to our academic programs. Access challenges affect a broad swath of our community and range from the need for new or different academic accommodations for students with disabilities and learning differences, to disparities in access to technology, to new responsibilities for dependent care. Guided by the principles of Universal Design for Learning, we have created a host of accessibility-related resources that are available to both faculty and students, including the CNDLS Guidebook on Accommodations and Accessibility, a comprehensive guide to accessible course design with practical instructions, recorded webinars and suggestions for further reading, and an Accessibility Resources for Students page linked to all Canvas course sites. For additional assistance, faculty may request an individual consultation with CNDLS staff, or contact the Academic Resource Center about specific accommodations for their students. The global crisis and its effects on our community are evolving on a daily basis, demanding new forms of collaboration and support for one another. We urge faculty to check in with students regularly about their changing access needs.

You have my very best wishes for a productive and successful term. Stay safe and be well!

Sincerely,
Annamarie Bianco
Associate Vice President and University Registrar